Varun Tej is turning out to be the new Nani of Telugu cinema. The subjects he has been offered proves this point. After 'Ashta Chamma', a new-age rom-com, Nani was offered versatile kind of roles, ranging from 'Ala Modalaindi', 'Eega', 'Pilla Jamindar', 'Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu', 'Yevade Subrahmanyam', 'Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy', 'Gentleman' and the yet-to-be-released 'Majnu'. Among them are both concept-based and out-and-out commercial stories, including a thriller. And Nani proved himself in all these roles.

With the Mega hero Varun Tej increasingly proving his talent film after film, he too has been offered versatile roles. From directors like Srikanth Addala ('Mukunda'), Krish ('Kanche'), Puri Jagannadh ('Loafer'), Sreenu Vaitla ('Mister'), and Sekhar Kammula ('Fidha'), he has had it all. Note that Varun Tej is luckier when it comes to getting to work with star directors quite early in his career, whereas Nani's only star directors till date are SS Rajamouli and Gautham Menon.

Varun Tej's roles too have been diverse, like Nani's. If in 'Mukunda' he was a lover boy, in 'Loafer', his act was in contrast, showing his rough side in good proportion. The slang he spoke in these two films were in contrast. Again in 'Kanche', he completely got into the skin of his character. To do that in a film set in pre-Independence India was an achievement in itself. Even as 'Mister' and 'Fidha' are yet to be released, he has reportedly been offered a psychological thriller in which he plays a youth with a syndrome. The director is Chandoo Mondeti.

Varun Tej, we may say so, is the New Natural Star of Tollywood. In the coming months and years, the New Natural Star may well give Nani a run for his money. Watch this space, folks!